The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1887-10-29
The BEST GRASSES.
How to Obtain and Retain Permanent
Pastures and Meadows.

Pastures and Meadows.
The basis of stock breeding and the
dairy should be permanent pastures
and meadows. How to obtain these
and retain them is the question. In
some places. on alluvial lands, or other
bottom lands, the answer is easy-by
letting them alone, and occasionally
sowing a little seed in thinned out
places, or scattering little horse
manure over such spots. In such soils
it is natural for the grass to be retained,
and it may last for lifetime or a
century. On uplands it is more diff
cult to keep land in grass without its
killing out in the winter. This in
clination is more common with some
kinds of grasses than with others.
Here is just where study should be
made, and all the best means employed
to do the best and to get the best re-
suits. | do not make it rule to seed
with oats, as the risks are too great OF
the seed catching well, and the cost is
too much to admit of its waste. Large
sums of money are lost in this way by
the careless and unwise methods of
seeding. Spring wheat is the best
spring crop to seed with, and barley
next The farmer makes a mistake
when he sows the grain as thickly with
the seeding as he would without it 1t
is absurd to expect to get two good
crops at the same time on the same
ground. Clover and timothy will often
do well, especially if the season is
a wet one, when put in with a
spring crop of grain. The other
grasses, more delicate in their start,
will never do well with an oat crop,
and not as well with any grain as when
put in alone. In order to get sure
seeding, and not run the risks Of loss
of labor and seed, all seeding should be
done with winter grain, and the seed
put on both ways as early in the spring
as it is possible to walk over the field.
have sown clover and timothy on tho
top of big snow-banks. and it did finely.
The seed finds its way right down to
the earth through the snow and ice,
and gets embedded in the soil ready to
start with the first growing weather.
and to get good root before any dry
weather comes. These grasses are not
suited for either permanent pasture
or meadow, and never should be put in
with any such expectation. Clover
may possibly linger in rich spots for
three years, but it generally follows its
nature (bienniaD, and dies out in two
years. Timothy, under favorable con.
ditions, when not pastured after now
ing or left to get good start in the
autumn, may last a few years, but as a
pasture grass it is very poor, and about
the last grass to be sown. Notwith.
standing the inefficiency of timothy al
grass for pasture, it is sown more
commonly than any other. This is be-
cause of its cheapness and the little
care most people think is necessary t.
put it in. 1t does better for a meadow
and fills place as grass for hay nc
other can fill.
For lasting grass, and to endure
all the changes of weather and climate
consider red-top the best. All kind!
of stock relish the hay, and also tn
pasture from it. 1t will outlive all
other grasses, and afford twice as mucl
pasture as timothy. Orchard grass
like for pasture, on account of it,
earliness and constant growth. Oh
good land it will furnish new bite il
three or four days after being eater
off 1t is not SO good for hay, as thu
stems are not thick enough, and unles
cut just right, it becomes woody. Flo
an aftermath no grass is equal to it
1t must never be pastured later tina
September, or mown later than this
for it will winter-kill. This has bee
my experience, but undoubtedly in
warmer climate, where the groun
,, does not freeze so hard, it might g
,, through the winter with the crowns e,
posed. Such is not the case in latitud
43e Our native blue grass (Po
pratensis) is valuable for pasture, as
is very early in starting, and grows a
through the season. It is, however, 6
natural to the sol that it will make i
appearance in abundance If not sowl
=. Rep-top is also indigenous on som
! farms. 1t may be new idea, but it
practicable one, to fit land designe
for pasture or meadow, in the fall, an
to sow the seed. When this can
done in August, it is an excellent pla'
I and it may be done after the crop
( spring grain has been taken off. Th
o will ensure successful catch. Whe
+ not done by the first of September,
1 can be done so late that the seed wi
n not terminate until spring, or the lar
i may be fitted in the autumn, and Il
= seed sown on top of the ground, so
= to be ready to start with the first war
Y days. Such seedlings may be utiliz'
the first season, and the crop De thick
J. and far more productive. than und
= the haphazsrd system If seeding wi
i grain.--E ., lNrsss, ~ Country u
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